Why Do We Keep

I also like having good-looking things on my desk. I spend a lot of my day looking at a screen, and it's nice to have something physical nearby that I enjoy seeing and holding. That's part of why I keep Trixel there. I can build a shape, leave it on the desk for a while, then pick it up and change it when I feel like it.

It made me wonder why so many of us keep objects around our workspaces that aren't strictly needed for work.

Making a desk feel like yours

A photograph, a plant, a model, or a small object collected on a trip can make a desk feel personal. What we choose to keep within reach says something about our interests, memories, and taste.

There is research behind the idea that having a say over your workspace matters. In two office experiments, people generally reported better well-being and performed better in decorated offices than in bare ones. The results improved further when they could choose how the space was decorated.

That doesn't mean a more crowded desk is a better desk. For me, it's about having a few things there because I want them there.

Giving your hands something to do

For a fidgeter, the nearest pen is often an accidental desk toy. Trixel gives me something I can turn over, adjust, or reshape when I want a moment away from the screen.

Research on short breaks suggests they can modestly reduce fatigue, though a desk toy itself isn't a proven way to improve focus or relieve stress. I simply enjoy having something to make with my hands.

An object people notice

There's another side to having Trixel on my desk that I didn't expect to enjoy so much: people ask about it.

Because the shape changes, someone might notice what I've built today, remember a different shape from last week, or ask how the pieces fit together. The object becomes a conversation starter. Over time, people begin to associate me with it and with the things I make.

That's different from putting a finished ornament on a shelf. Trixel can be something to look at, something to handle, and something to share. A colleague can point to a shape and ask, “How did you make that?” Before long, we're both trying another one.

A small part of the workday that's yours

I don't think every item on a desk needs a psychological explanation. Sometimes you keep something there because you like it.

For me, a good desk toy has a few qualities at once. It feels satisfying in my hands. I like how it looks when I put it down. And it leaves room for me to do something different with it tomorrow.

Curious what else the pieces can become? You can explore more Trixel builds.